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Green Initiatives

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GREEN INITIATIVE PLAN  

Introduction

Portland Public Library has created a Green Initiative Plan for the renovation of its Main Library on Monument Square in downtown Portland, Maine, to lessen the Library’s environmental impact, particularly on Casco Bay and its watershed, and to reduce energy consumption and long-term operating costs. 

 As a public institution, this is a flagship project and will represent a significant achievement for the Library in creating a green building, serving as a model for replication among downtown office buildings, and providing a public educational site on conserving Casco Bay.

 Designed to meet LEED Silver standards, Portland Public Library will be the first green roof in downtown Portland, the first green renovation of a downtown Portland public building, and the first public demonstration site in Portland on green technologies.

 Scott Simons Architects, Portland, Maine, has been contracted to complete project designs and construction drawings. 

 

The Plan

 

  • Meet LEED Silver standards.  The Library’s renovation plans are designed to create a high-performance facility, with all systems operating as efficiently as possible.

  • Construct two Green Roofs and Roof Gardens on the Library’s second and third floor to create a vegetated buffer that reduces stormwater runoff to protect Casco Bay and its watershed. 

The Library is a modern building in downtown Portland designed in 1978 with a footprint of 32,493 square feet.  To eliminate stormwater runoff, the Library will decrease the imperviousness of the building’s existing surfaces by creating two green roofs and two rooftop gardens and capture additional runoff that will be used for irrigation.  The Green Roofs and Rooftop Gardens total 14,052 square feet—43% of the Library’s footprint.  Additional outcomes include improving air quality by reducing heat island effect and enhancing the overall aesthetic experience for Library visitors and downtown workers in neighboring mid-rise buildings.

  • Create a solar chimney and glass curtain wall on the Library’s façade to help passively preheat air for the mechanical systems in the winter and to evacuate hot air in the summer.  This will reduce the need for excessive mechanical heating and cooling, thereby reducing energy consumption and lowering operating costs.

  • Create a public Learning Station at a major Green Roof observation point with informational kiosks that will introduce green roof technologies, feature information on Casco Bay conservation, and highlight citywide educational efforts concerning green spaces.  Our educational partners include Portland Trails and University of Southern Maine.

  • Reduce energy consumption by replacing about half of the Library’s exterior glass with triple-glazed windows to reduce heat buildup from sunlight and by installing mechanicals and HVAC monitoring systems to maximize energy efficiencies and performance. 

The Library is making an incremental investment of approximately $100,000 in higher performing mechanical systems.  Current capital campaign projections, however, limit us to partial window upgrades.  If additional targeted support is found, then all windows will be replaced.

  •  Protect atmosphere and indoor environment quality with no ozone-depleting refrigerants in air conditioning and no halon gases in fire suppression system.  Install carpet materials that emit low amounts of airborne contaminants and that are made with materials that have extremely high percentage recycled content.  Meet or exceed the standard American Society for Heating, Refrigerating and Air-conditions Engineers 62-1999, Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality.  Carbon dioxide will be monitored and will be no higher than outdoor levels by more than 530 parts per million; will provide a monitoring system to automatically adjust for thermal comfort; maximize daylight and views from 90% of all regularly occupied spaces.

  • Redevelop the existing Library building following smart growth concepts.  By renovating or recycling the existing space, staying within the original footprint and not adding additions, and utilizing existing interior design elements, the Library will significantly reduce the amount of required construction materials and building products.

  • Recycle 75% of demolition and construction waste.  Use recycled material in construction and a minimum of 20% of building products manufactured within 500 miles of Portland.

  • Install new floor tiles that have high recycled content materials, e.g., terrazzo-like tiles with recycled glass aggregates.

  • Reduce water consumption.  All new restrooms will have dual flush toilets and ultra low flush urinals.

  • Promote pedestrian friendly and public transit access to Monument Square.

Implementation

Library renovation is scheduled to begin in March 2009.  Implementation of the Green Initiative Plan will begin concurrently with the renovation and will include all of the above objectives, except for the green roof and roof gardens.  Construction of the green roofs and roof gardens will begin as soon as funding becomes available.

 ver. 11-05-2009

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